Matthew 6:11 “Bread 2”

 Here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

¹¹Give to us today our daily bread.

As I said in my last post, I fear this simple little verse is so pregnant with truth, I doubt if I can do it justice, but I will try. Over the years, too many times, I have heard people say things like, “You shouldn’t bother God with “little” things, that you should only pray about “important” things. That sentiment has always horrified me. Life is mostly made up of “little” things. If we shouldn’t pray about those things, to me we might as well cut off the arms and legs of our prayers.

For anyone subscribing to that opinion, what will you do with this line of the Lord’s Prayer? “Give us this day our daily bread.” Bread. How much simpler can that get? No, no, no, and a thousand times no. Who ever told their two-year old not to bother them with “little” things? All they know is “little” things. They ask for silly things and does that bother us? “Of course not,” you say. “I just love to hear their little voice!” And do you think God our Father is any different?

Proverbs 15:8 says, “…the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Elsewhere, the Bible tells us our prayers are like incense to the Lord. Later in the Sermon on the Mount (ch. 7), Jesus Himself compares prayer to a child asking his father for bread or a fish. In Luke’s version, the child asks for an egg. Does Jesus say, “They’re so foolish! They shouldn’t bother their father about such simple things!” No, and rather what does He say? “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?”

Simple things. Based on the words of the Lord Himself, let us all be encouraged that no request, no problem, no question is too “small” for prayer. Instead, He says, “…in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6). 

Pray on, my friends! Give Him your squeaky little voice and tell Him anything and everything that crosses your mind. Remember, your prayers are His delight. He’s your heavenly Father. 

"Give us this day our daily bread." 

Pray on, my friends!